Kate Middleton

[RichV]

I really like Kate as well, and I think she is a breath of fresh air in the royal family. I find her lovely - even her photos w/out makeup, maganda pa rin siya.

As for the Middletons being viewed as social climbers, yung mga Brits are extremely snobbish about the backgrounds of people - particularly the origins of your family. Basically kung walang "title" yung great-great-great grandparents mo, hindi ka considered "old family". The old money Brits can tell within 10 seconds what kind of background you come from - sa accent pa lang ng fellow Brit usually alam na nila.
And because the old money people grew up with each other and even marry within each other's families, they all grow up "knowing who belongs."

Kate and her family, even with their considerable upper middle class money, would never belong to the old circles.

I speak as someone who studied and lived in the UK for several years. It's fascinating to learn about the complicated dynamics of British society. They are snobs to the highest level (not a criticism, it is what it is.)

And I beg to disagree that Kate is not liked by the British general public. Of course she has her fair share of detractors but the Brits are also notorious for being the harshest critics of each other.

Any celebrity's popularity goes through ups and downs but if you look at the most credible UK popularity polls, Kate is generally viewed positively. She and William are among the most liked royals in decades. Charles has never been that popular EVER.

[tennisgirl]

As for the Middletons being viewed as social climbers, yung mga Brits are extremely snobbish about the backgrounds of people - particularly the origins of your family. Basically kung walang "title" yung great-great-great grandparents mo, hindi ka considered "old family". The old money Brits can tell within 10 seconds what kind of background you come from - sa accent pa lang ng fellow Brit usually alam na nila.
And because the old money people grew up with each other and even marry within each other's families, they all grow up "knowing who belongs."

Kate and her family, even with their considerable upper middle class money, would never belong to the old circles.

Yes, sis RichV, I've heard na malalaman ang status ng isang tao sa UK depende sa accent nya. Kate was criticized na binago nya ang accent nya. She's trying hard to sound posh pero nahalata din ng mga tao na she was just pretending. 

[tennisgirl]

usually naman di ba nangagaling ibang pera ng royals e pera ng mga brit people tutuusin charity worek etc sila

In my opinion hindi na dapat siguro magreklamo ang mga British kung part of their taxes goes to the Royal family. Malaki din naman ang nagegenerate na income ng Royal Family for UK's tourism industry.

[RichV]

Yes, sis RichV, I've heard na malalaman ang status ng isang tao sa UK depende sa accent nya. Kate was criticized na binago nya ang accent nya. She's trying hard to sound posh pero nahalata din ng mga tao na she was just pretending. 

Correct Sis! Yung criticism kay Kate by the Brits is that she sounds different in her few select speaking engagements and interviews. Parang pa-iba iba yung accent niya - the inflections and pronounciations change. Siguro these are VERY subtle accent variations that most of us (non-Brits) will not notice. There are certain words that she pronounces daw that are dead giveaway na hindi yung ang natural way of speaking niya.

I have a Brit friend who said halatang nag elocution classes daw si Kate LOL   

The late Princess Diana came from a very aristocratic background and she had the mannerisms and accent consistent with someone who grew up in amidst aristocrats.

The handsome Benedict Cumberbatch has a very authentic posh British accent having studied in one of most exclusive boy's school in England.

 

[patriciaheart]

Hala parang Pilipinas rin pala, paano pa accent ni Ozzy Osbourne haha Anyway, they should get over it. as long as mahal sya talaga ni William, kay Camilla ako awang awa kasi kahit pa aristocrat sya parang hate na hate sya ng mga Brit.

[may12]

^^Actually nabasa ko sa biography ni Princess Di na yung accent niya, hindi naman katulad sa mga high aristocrats. She also had a hard time fitting in with Charles's circle maybe because of the age gap. Pero it was stated there na she likes to joke around, imitating the high society's accent which is harder to understand.

[RichV]

^ I disagree. Diana was born to one of the most aristocratic and noble English families. Her family are descendants of Sir Winston Churchill. When she was born her parents were titled, the Viscount and Viscountess  - yung dad niya eventually became the 8th Earl Spencer at which point Diana became Lady Diana. That is a very blue blooded noble background and she was known for having a naturally posh accent.

She went to all the right British schools where the old money study, and even spent a few years in a Swiss finishing school.
Kaya nga siya pinili na wife ni Charles by people working for the royal family - because "on paper" and based on her impeccable background, she was perfect future Queen material. Had nothing to do with real love.
Based on all the credible biographies, it was an arranged and planned marriage of sorts for Charles which Diana did not know about, kaya daw siya brokenhearted later on. Charles previously dated Diana's older sister, Sarah.

Diana allegedly never fit in the circle of Charles because of the age difference and because she was reportedly not very intelligent and syempre at her young age iba yung lifestyle niya.

Kaya a lot of people kind of admired and supported William's choice of Kate - because unlike his father, he was clearly marrying for love not for politics.

[twelvth_goddess]

I like Kate Middleton. She's classy, pretty, and well educated. People will always have something to say about her. When Princess Di was still alive, people loved her but bashed her just the same. I think it's part of the life they chose to accept.

[may12]

RichV, I know Diana's background 'caused I've read 2 of her biographies. Since my books are in my parents' home, I cannot quote them, but allow me to quote a couple of websites instead.

"(Diana's accent) is closer to the generalised southern accent sometimes called Estuary English" --theeconomist.com

"There is a huge accent gap between Charles and Diana." --John Honey--nytimes.com

But I guess it also has something to do with age gap 'cause it says there that Charles' accent is more used my older generation (mas formal kesa sa variant na ginagamit ni Diana).

And I don't think hindi aware si Diana na naghahanap lang talaga si Charles ng wife kaya nagpakasal. It was highly publicized. In fact, she's the 3rd woman he was romantically involved with in just a year. And if the book I read was correct, it was not the palace who chose Diana. Prince Charles and Camilla chose her from a list. But yes, Diana also thought Prince Charles had feelings for her because of his attentions. But on their honeymoon, she discovered he still kept Camilla's photo in his diary.

Anyway, thread nga pala to ni Kate. I think the queen has learned her lessons too. She became softer with Prince William. Kung si Prince Charled yung nagpakasal sa commoner dati I doubt the quuen would have approved.

[RichV]

May12, the very same New york times article you quoted also has this quote "The Charles-Di split, then, is a matter of two different styles of upper-class speech."

In short, parehong upper class speech – my point exactly.

And there are dozens of biographies on Diana so there are dozens of stories of what happened behind the scenes for Charles & Diana's wedding - some are much more credible than others.

Btw I’m not dismissing your views, am actually enjoying this discussion! 

Poor Kate is accused of trying hard to be posh. Si Diana was accused of trying hard to appear common.

With the British press, celebrities or high profile personalities are always attacked. But I think it’s safe to say, outside of Britain, Kate is generally well liked and even admired. The Americans seem to love her.

I think a lot of women in particular like her kasi she strikes the right balance: very pretty but hindi yung drop dead beauty that can be intimidating, very fashionable but not overly trendy and hindi laging designer outfit, and seemingly warm enough but hindi yung overly fake sweety-pa cutie.

[may12]

"Poor Kate is accused of trying hard to be posh. Si Diana was accused of trying hard to appear common."

^True! Sometimes it makes me wonder if Kate is also going through the emotional struggles Diana had gone through because of all the criticisms and the need to fit in. Buti nalang love nila ni Prince William ang isa't isa.

[Tatrix]

I like her! Nagagandahan ako sa kanya. And yung mga damit niya!! Lol!

[molybdenumstudios]

I like Kate Middleton for Prince William.

[tennisgirl]

Bakit ba kailangang baguhin pa nya ang accent nya, alam naman ng lahat na hindi sya royalty? ayan tuloy, lalo lang syang napipintasan. Sabi nga ng ibang British, "Is she ashamed of her family/roots?"

[twelvth_goddess]

^I have no idea what accents mean to British people but my take on that is people need to adapt to changes in their lives. To adapt is to make changes, not necessarily naman na nagiging social climber na. For example dito sa Pinas, when a poor woman marries a rich man, diba nage-exert din naman ng effort si woman to learn how to speak properly so she can interact better with the friends and family of rich guy? Hinde naman social climber agad yon or pa-sosyal. Just because a person wants to improve a skill doesn't necessarily mean nagpapa-sosyal sya or astang mayaman. That, unfortunately is an example of crab mentality.

[manhattanite]

^Agree.  Add to that, that she married into what can be considered as THE royal family of royal families, so there are certain expectations that come with it and I think it's but natural for Kate to do her best to fit in.  Si Lea Salonga nga nung nasa Miss Saigon pa, biglang nagka-British accent LOL.

[patriciaheart]

Maybe she picks up the accent since she is surrounded by royals. Ganyan talaga maski ikaw tumira sa lugar na may thick accent or what not eh mag aadapt ka kasi yung yung naririnig mo, parang automatic na.

[twelvth_goddess]

True. Like when someone who has a regional accent comes to Manila, after some time, the accent gets neutralized din naman. Especially pa when the person exerts effort to neutralize it as well. That doesn't mean that person is already a social climber.

[molybdenumstudios]

^ My mother's the best example. Her original Bisaya accent went away after coming to Manila from North Cotabato.

[tennisgirl]

sisses twelvth_goddess, manhattanite, patriciaheart: Kate is not yet married to Prince William when the British people noticed that she's trying to sound posh. Her accent was noticed during the engagement interview.

I understand yung sinasabi nyo na nakukuha mo yung accent ng mga taong nakapaligid sa'yo or kung saan ka nakatira. Two of my aunties who are living in Australia for several years have acquired the Australian accent. Kahit ako din nung nag-stay ako dun for 6 months nagkaron din ako ng konting accent. Pero ang napansin ko lang, ayaw ng mga Caucasians na ginagaya mo ang accent nila, kahit na di mo naman sinasadya. Okey lang sa kanila kung Filipino accent ka, naiintindihan ka nila kasi non-native English speaker ka naman. 

Kaya naman si Kate napansin na ginagaya nya ang accent ng mga royals kasi alam naman ng mga British na commoner sya at wala talagang royal blood.